IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlumade a call to the Minister of Treasury and Finance Nureddin Nebati, who did not approve the additional loan of 75 million Euros they received from the European Development Bank for the Ümraniye-Ataşehir-Göztepe metro line, which will largely solve the transportation problem of Finans City, which will house the state's financial institutions. Stating that they have been waiting for a permission signature from Minister Nebati for 9 months, İmamoğlu said, “Do you know what this approval is? It's just an endorsement with no treasury guarantee. In other words, we expect him to dip his pen in ink and sign it for 9 months. Although that loan has not been received for 9 months, we continue our business here from our own resources, with a great struggle. But there can be no reason, reason or reason for not signing this. Please, Mr. Minister, sign as soon as possible so that we can solve the transportation problem of Finans City, which you see behind us, on behalf of the people of Istanbul and on behalf of our country.”
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) President Ekrem İmamoğluheld a meeting on “Finance City” at Göztepe Station of the Ümraniye-Ataşehir-Göztepe metro line, which will largely solve the transportation problem of Finans City, which will house the financial institutions of the state. At the end of the meeting Kadıköy İmamoğlu, who met the cameras with Mayor Şerdil Dara Odabaşı, Ataşehir Mayor Battal İlgezdi and İBB Deputy Secretary General Pelin Alpkökin, stated that the station he made a statement was a construction site for Finans Şehir. Stating that it is anticipated that more than 100 thousand employees will be employed in Finans City, İmamoğlu noted that the daily traffic of the region is expected to be very intense. Emphasizing that the metro will be the healthiest means of transportation for such a center in this context, İmamoğlu made a brief summary of the establishment and construction process of Finans City, which took about 10 years.
“WE ARE WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR 4 MAYORS”
Sharing the information that there will be public institutions such as the Central Bank, BRSA, SPK, Ziraat Bank, Halkbank and Vakıfbank within the scope of Finans City, which was started to be built without the necessary planning, İmamoğlu said, “I remember it stopped for a long time. The process of moving was also mentioned, such as the end of summer, September, and October. Of course, there are a few issues here. What are some topics? One is transportation. Most important. In other words, road transport and metro transport. But the one that will take the biggest load is the metro transportation. Regarding road transportation, the process had to be managed very well and in harmony with both our Metropolitan Municipality and district municipalities. In this context, I gave instructions to our Secretary General and with our 4 mayors; Atasehir, KadıköyI wanted them to meet with our Mayors of Ümraniye and Üsküdar. Our mayor friends also declared to us that they will continue negotiations with the ministry on this issue.”
“WE GOT WITH 4 PERCENT PROGRESS, REACHED 55 PERCENT”
Pointing out that the completion process of Finans Şehir is uncertain, İmamoğlu shared the following information regarding the construction process of the Ataşehir-Ümraniye- Göztepe metro line, which is vital for the region: “The line started in 2017. A study was done. But the company stopped the process. Because there is no allowance, no credit. There was no work. Then it didn't work for a long time. It actually stopped as it started in 2017. Then, as you know, in 2018, the entire place was canceled with a signature. Then this cancellation was withdrawn and it was decided to start again. However, the contractor companies did not walk here because they did not have an allowance. This is a consortium. When we took office, this was one of the first lines we were interested in. The reason is Finance City. We said, 'We have to offer a support there quickly,' and we predicted that this place should quickly catch up with the rate. This was the first of the lines where we made our first financial negotiations and we obtained a financing of 175 million Euros. With this 175 million Euro financing, we started our contractors. How did we start? In this process, which we started again in October 2019, the completion rate of the work we took over was approximately 4 percent. So buying with 4 percent actually means starting almost from scratch. We are now above 55 percent. While continuing our work in this process, we also solved the vehicle problem here. At the moment, the production of the vehicle problem has started. We bought 40 vehicles here.”
“We APPLIED TO THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE 11 MONTHS AGO”
Pointing out that the line in question needs new financing, İmamoğlu said, “Due to this financing need, we had another meeting with IBRD, the institution from which we previously borrowed. We have reached a preliminary agreement regarding the purchase of an additional loan of 75 million Euros. For this compromise, we needed to get permission to get a loan here. We unanimously removed it from the IMM Assembly and applied to the Ministry of Finance. How long ago? Exactly 11 months ago. And in January, this signature file came before the Minister of Finance. In other words, our approval has been waiting for signature in front of Mr. Nabati for 9 months. Do you know what this confirmation is? It's just an endorsement with no treasury guarantee. In other words, we expect him to dip his pen in ink and sign it for 9 months. Although that loan has not been received for 9 months, we continue our business here from our own resources, with a great struggle. But there can be no reason, reason or reason for not signing this. In other words, we are building subways to the institutions of this country. The institution of this country produces metro. IMM today Ekrem İmamoğlu at the beginning. Tomorrow is someone else. Yesterday was someone else. In other words, every service rendered is done for Istanbul. Why would a minister refuse this? Dear Nebahat, why do you refuse to do this? In Istanbul, the Ministry of Transport is building metro lines. God bless you; Of course he will. İBB is building metro lines. Of course we will. We will do it together. Despite all your possibilities, while building the subway, you are nailing us, saying, 'Don't do business'”.
“10 OF OUR 10 METRO LINES ARE WORKING ROUNDLY”
Reminding that some ministers claimed that the metro works in the hands of İBB were not working, İmamoğlu said, “10 of our 10 metro lines are working with a bang. This year, we will open our 3 metro lines. Our Ümraniye-Ataşehir-Göztepe metro line is also running, but you are preventing money from entering this country with the loan we received. In other words, 75 million Euros will come from the European Development Bank; You are preventing this. It doesn't seem mind-blowing. What's wrong with us? This is the city's reaching the highest level of rail systems as soon as possible. Look, I want to give an example. I want this to go to your ears. For example, the previous Minister of Transport, Mr. Turhan, made a statement about transportation: 'Istanbul Airport metro will be finished at the beginning of 2020.' The new minister also makes a statement that 'it will end in May 2021'. Today we are coming towards the end of 2022 and now they are saying 'it will open at the beginning of 2023'. Look, every delayed job hurts us. Every delayed process hurts us. We want the Istanbul Airport metro to be connected to the city as soon as possible. Likewise, this financing is needed in order to fulfill our responsibility in meeting the needs of Finans City. Any delay here means this place doesn't work. Who will not work? Central Bank's business will not work here. BRSA's business will not work here. SPK's work will not work. The works of Ziraat Bank's General Directorate will not work. Halk Bank, Vakıfbank's general directorate will not work here," he said.
“I HAVE ALSO INFORMED THE PRESIDENT OF THE PRESIDENT”
Expressing the information that people who will work in Finans City have started to rent houses in the region, İmamoğlu said: “I am informed that they are preparing to move here. They won't be able to come and go to work. Mr. Nebati, please sign this permission, our 75 million Euro permission, immediately. This is not your political decision. Maybe the President is not aware of this calendar. Maybe the President is unaware of the process here in his intensity. I hereby inform the Honorable President. Let the ministers be aware of the delays in this matter. They are very proud of this place as Finans City. Our intensive work on getting this place to the metro quickly is being blocked. After the 75 million Euro loan, maybe we will get another loan. Maybe we need one more. We speak for him. It is obvious that most of the subways are running with such a financial need. Even in the metro of the airport, where the central government of our country is struggling with all its means, there is a delay of 2 years. So we don't want to be late. In the commitments we made to our people, we said, 'We will open this place in the first six months of 2024'. We will still continue our work. In any case, we will continue. Please, Mr. Minister, sign as soon as possible so that we can solve the transportation problem of the Finance City, which you see behind us, on behalf of the people of Istanbul and on behalf of our country.”
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